Sourcing Manager - Chemicals / Raw Materials
Job Description
Position overview
We are seeking a commercially driven Sourcing Manager with a strong understanding of chemical feedstocks and value chains, who thrives in a fast-paced, market-exposed environment.
In this role, you will own and execute sourcing strategies for critical raw materials, balancing cost competitiveness, security of supply, and risk management. You act as a true business partner to the Business Unit, translating market intelligence into sourcing decisions that directly impact margin, reliability, and growth.
This role manages an annual spend of approximately USD 40–50 million and requires someone who is proactive, decisive, and motivated to win in volatile chemical markets.
Responsibilities
Strategic Sourcing & Commercial Leadership
- Develop and execute raw material sourcing strategies through structured RFPs, negotiations, and supplier portfolio management to optimize Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
- Lead high-impact commercial negotiations, balancing price, terms, supply security, risk exposure, and long-term competitiveness.
- Actively manage market volatility, anticipating supply/demand shifts and recommending proactive actions to the business.
Supplier & Value Chain Management
- Build and maintain senior-level relationships with key raw material suppliers across regions, understanding their cost drivers, constraints, and strategic priorities.
- Lead quarterly business reviews with key suppliers focused on performance, reliability, cost competitiveness, risk mitigation, and innovation.
- Identify and develop alternative sources and value chain options to strengthen supply resilience.
Business Partnership & Market Intelligence
- Serve as Procurement Partner to the Business Unit, providing clear insights on feedstocks, pricing mechanisms, and value chain dynamics.
- Translate market movements into commercial recommendations (pricing actions, contract structures, risk mitigation).
- Provide regular updates on market trends, contracts, and strategic risks to key stakeholders.
Operational Excellence & Governance
- Lead Management of Change (MOC) processes for direct raw materials and new suppliers, ensuring disciplined execution and stakeholder alignment.
- Prepare monthly raw material price variance analyses, forecasts, and outlooks to support financial planning and decision-making.
- Ensure compliance with procurement processes, contracts, and ISO 9001 / 14001 / 50001 standards.
Savings & Performance Delivery
- Deliver against U.S. cost savings and value targets, leveraging demand aggregation, specification optimization, supplier strategies, and TCO levers.
- Drive continuous improvement in sourcing effectiveness, risk management, and supplier performance.
Required skills and experience
- Minimum of 10 years of sourcing or procurement experience within chemicals, specialty chemicals, oil & gas, or related manufacturing industries.
- Demonstrated success in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and contract management for direct materials.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, including cost modeling, margin understanding, and pricing analysis.
- Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and operate effectively in a matrix organization.
- Strong analytical, communication, and execution skills.
- Strong knowledge of chemical feedstocks and value chains, including upstream cost drivers and downstream impact.
- Ability to connect market dynamics to business implications (pricing, margin, availability, risk).
- Comfort operating in volatile markets and making informed, timely decisions.
- Fluent in English (written and spoken).
Preferred / Additional Experience
- Chemical Market fluency / Key feedstocks and value chains
- Chemical Manufacturing cost drivers and pricing models
- Experience with Microsoft Software, SAP and Ariba Sourcing
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in business, chemistry, or supply chain/logistics.